Recently obtaining his first dog proved to be a sound investment for a Pinconning Township man, as the canine saved his life by alerting him to a fire that ended up ravaging his house.
The fire at 3301 N. Fraser Road occurred just after midnight on Tuesday, Feb. 12.
Bay County Sheriff Troy R. Cunningham said the lone male resident of the single-story house had been asleep when his dog began barking, awakening him.
Pinconning-Fraser firefighters were dispatched to the scene at 12:24 a.m. They arrived to find heavy smoke and fire, leading them to switch from an offensive attack to a defensive one.
Winds of 15 to 25 mph also worsened the fire, with the 27-degree temperatures adding to the difficulty, said Fire Chief Dave Ramsay. Firefighters from Gibson Township, Beaver Township, Kawkawlin Township, Mount Forest Township, and Standish provided mutual aid. Northern Bay Ambulance, sheriff’s deputies, and Michigan State Police troopers also assisted at the scene.